The Grenfell Tower fire incident has been almost eight years, but it’s still fresh in the mind of every block property manager and RMC director. Why? Because it caused immeasurable loss, and 72 people lost their lives. Fire safety in apartment blocks is critical to saving thousands of pounds worth of assets and the lives of hundreds of residents.
It only takes a single spark for a destructive fire to start. Proper preparedness for such an emergency is critical to save lives. This includes having proper measures for fire safety in apartment buildings, a fire evacuation strategy in place, and ensuring every resident is well-versed in what to do in the event of a fire.
As a property owner, RMC director, or leaseholder, it is your responsibility to reduce the risk of fire as much as possible. By working with Habitare, you can make sure your apartment block is well maintained, with no gas faults or electrical wiring issues left unattended.
Furthermore, if anything unexpected happens, our emergency response team is available 24/7 for your assistance.
In this article, we’ll look into what to do after an apartment fire breaks out.
What are Landlord and Resident’s Obligations for Fire Safety in Apartment Blocks?
Typically, a fire in apartment blocks usually starts from an individual flat, and for that reason, it’s not just the property owner or RMC director’s responsibility, but every resident’s obligation to ensure fire safety.
The landlord or property owner’s responsibilities in taking care of fire safety in apartment buildings are as follows:
- Conduct regular assessments of fire risks in the building
- Install fire safety measures, such as smoke and fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers
- Educate residents about fire evacuation strategy
- Ensure that all gas equipment is installed and maintained by a gas-safe registered engineer
- Provide safe electrical appliances, undertake regular electrical maintenance, and ensure any furniture provided is non-combustible
Residents and tenants are also responsible for ensuring fire safety in apartment buildings. They can undertake proactive measures such as:
- Not obstructing communal areas such as hallways, staircases, and main doors
- Taking part in the fire evacuation exercises
- Notifying block property managers or RMC directors if they notice the smell of gas or anything unusual in their electrical system
- Avoiding keeping flammable liquids inside their flat
- Being mindful of turning off switches and gas knobs when leaving home
- Changing the battery of fire alarms in their homes (not communal spaces) at regular intervals
Common Fire Safety Measures to Follow
Here are some common measures to undertake to ensure fire safety in apartment blocks:
- Take annual fire risk assessment seminars and implement any suggestions that have been recommended
- Communicate notices, conduct regular inspections and fire evacuation exercises
- Install and maintain automatic fire doors
- Have clearly marked escape routes and keep away any combustible materials from these areas
- Maintain fire detectors
- Install and maintain dry risers in apartment blocks
3 Tips To Follow In Case of a Fire Breakout
Even when you and your tenants follow stringent and preemptive fire safety measures, an unfortunate incident might still occur.
So, what to do after an apartment fire breaks out? How can you make sure you reduce the risk of fatalities? Follow this fire evacuation strategy:
Use Stairs Instead of Lifts
Even residents on the top floor of an apartment tower should take the stairs instead of lifts when evacuating. This is done because smoke can fill the lift shafts, a power failure might occur while the lift is in operation, causing residents to be trapped, and the door might open onto a fire floor, leading to more dangers.
Remember the Fire Evacuation Policy
Different types of fire evacuation policies are in place, such as the Stay Put Policy or the Complete Evacuation Policy. It’s important that your residents are aware of the fire evacuation strategy and follow it when needed.
Stay Put Policy: If your building follows this strategy for fire safety in apartment blocks, your residents need to close their doors and windows and call 999. They shouldn’t evacuate their homes unless they can smell smoke or are notified by firefighting professionals or you (the block property manager).
Full Evacuation Policy: If your building follows this fire evacuation strategy, then your tenants should immediately leave their flats as soon as they hear the fire alarm. They should close the door to their flats and follow the evacuation path to the outside of the building. Once they are safe, they should make the call to 999.
Don’t Interfere With Fire Safety Professionals
Once fire safety professionals arrive at your property, make sure you stay out of their way and their vehicles. Provide them with any assistance that they might seek, such as building plans or pointing out where the fire has begun. If you know the source of the fire, you can share this information as well. This will help firefighters gauge the best method to fight the fire, like using foam or water.
Contact Habitare for Assistance With Emergency Services
Following measures for fire safety in apartment blocks is essential to keeping your residents safe. Despite every precaution, a fire may still break out, and you don’t have to face such emergency situations alone.
Habitare offers an out-of-the-hours emergency response service, and we’re always available regardless of the time. Our block property managers conduct regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs to greatly reduce the likelihood of issues that can cause a fire to break out. We can also help RMC directors in planning and executing fire evacuation exercises and communicate the same among residents.
For more information, contact us today.